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Ailing Adams hopes to be ready for playoffs

Ailing Adams hopes to be ready for playoffs

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Mike Adams

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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are eight or nine days away from opening the playoffs. They don't know if reliever Mike Adams will be ready by then as he is continuing to experience more problems with the trapezius muscle in the back of his right shoulder.

The Rangers are going to give him time off to get the shoulder right. They just don't know how long he will need. If this were earlier in the season, Adams would be on the disabled list. An MRI taken on Friday showed a mild strain and he will continue to undergo treatment.

"I need to take a step back," Adams said. "I'm not right. Physically I'm not 100 percent. I've been going out battling and grinding when I know I'm not 100 percent."

Adams, the Rangers primary eighth-inning reliever, was shut down for a week after giving up two runs against the Indians on Sept. 11. He returned to the mound on Sept. 19 and made three appearances without giving up a run.

But he entered the game to pitch in the eighth inning on Thursday with the Rangers holding a 9-4 lead over the Athletics and gave up three home runs. It's the first time in his career that he has given multiple home runs in an appearance. Koji Uehara had to enter the game and got the last out.

"Yesterday I was glad we had the lead we had," Adams said. "If it had been a two-run lead, I would have cost us a win. I can't keep doing that. I can't keep doing that to myself and I can't do that to my teammates.

"There is something going. We rested it for a week and thought that might be enough. Today it's more than I thought. We're going to take it day by day and do what's best for me and the team. Me going out there today is not good for me or the team."

The Rangers, after a three-game series with the Angels and three with the Athletics, will open the playoffs either next Saturday or Sunday. Adams may have to miss at least the first round.

"I need to get back healthy," Adams said. "If I need to take a weekend off or a week off, if it takes longer, I need to do what's best for the team. It's discouraging. It's difficult. I know I'm not 100 percent and it's starting to affect me mentally."